LAS observers’ further work in Syria to help stabilise situation -- FM

January 23, 2012, 23:15 UTC+3Moscow is confident that an all-Syria dialogue will help prevent violence and external interference in that country

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MOSCOW, January 23 (Itar-Tass) —— Further work of observers from the League of Arab States in Syria (LAS) should help stabilise the situation in the country, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said at a meeting with Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad on Monday, January 23.

The discussion, initiated by the Syrian side, focused on the “situation in Syria and around it in the light of the extraordinary session of the League of Arab States in Cairo to consider the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Bogdanov noted “the importance of further work of the LAS observers in Syria, whose activities should help stabilise the situation in the country, and start a national dialogue as soon as possible in order to find mutually acceptable ways to resolve the internal crisis”.

Moscow earlier urged the League of Arab States to help foster a dialogue between the government and the opposition in Syria as soon as possible.

The Syrian ambassador earlier informed Bogdanov of the efforts being taken by the Syrian leadership in order to normalise the situation in the country and carry on democratic reforms, stressed Damascus’s commitment to dialogue with the political opposition and the schedule of reforms that calls for a nationwide referendum on the draft constitution in March and elections to the Syrian parliament on a new political and legal basis in May.

Bogdanov noted the need for the speediest start of a broad national dialogue with the opposition in order to effectively support the efforts aimed at stopping violence in the country, no matter where it comes from, and prevent attempts at external interference.

The diplomats welcomed the efforts of the LAS Observer Mission in Syria that helps stabilise the situation in cooperation with the Syrian authorities.

In a telephone conversation with LAS Secretary-General Nabil El Araby last week, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Russia’s support for the League of Arab States’s activities on Syria and stressed the importance of continuing the work of its observers in that country.

He “noted the special importance of fostering a mutually respectful dialogue between the government and the opposition at the earliest opportunity with LAS assistance in order to ensure civil peace and national accord in Syria and facilitate the resolution of the problems on the national agenda by the Syrians in the interests of all citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic”, the ministry said.

Moscow is confident that an all-Syria dialogue will help prevent violence and external interference in that country.